The opening pattern after either black [a] or [b] is 'yonrensei'
It's unimportant where exactly white played on the left side

Chinese

si4 lian2 xing1

English

four hoshi stones "in a row"

Japanese

sanrensei (san+rensei)

The opening pattern with the three stones is called sanrensei
It's unimportant where exactly white played on the left side

Chinese

san1 lian2 xing1

English

three hoshi stones in a row

Japanese

nirensei (ni+rensei)

The opening pattern with the two stones is called nirensei
It's unimportant where exactly white played on the left side

Chinese

er4 lian2 xing1

English

two hoshi stones in a row

Japanese

hoshi

The black stones are on the hoshi points in the corner,
The white stones are on the hoshi points along the edge,
The marked black stone is on the hoshi point in the center.

Chinese

xing1 wei4

English

star point

Japanese

choshi ga ii

White (Go Seigen) to play.
White actually wants to extend along the right edge.
By first forcing with 1 through 5, the extension 7
becomes more natural, part of the "flow of moves".

Chinese

hao3 jie2 zou4, hao3 diao4 zi

English

natural flow of moves

Japanese

ate komi

We are in the middle of a 'hoshi joseki' (black to move).
Normal continuations at this point are [a] or 1 ('ate komi').

English

playing inside an enemy kosumi

Japanese

aji keshi

A well known position after white invaded hoshi
Exchanging black 1 (forcing white 2) is aji keshi since
black will loose the option to play [a] (threatening 2)

Chinese

xiao1 yu2 wei4

English

spoiling possibilities

Japanese

yurumi shicho

This position arose from a 'hoshi joseki' and it is black's move.
If black defends his cutting stones with 1, white can capture
them using the 'yurumi shicho' and 'geta' technique.
(Please note that this sequence works since white 6 and 8 are 'sente'.)
The correct 'joseki' move therefore is one point above [3].

English

loose ladder

Japanese

hoshi shita

Chinese

xing1 xia4

English

below one of the eight 'hoshi' points along the edge

Japanese

ate-tsugi

We are in the middle of a 'hoshi joseki'.
Two variations starting from here start with 'ate-tsugi':
1. White [a], Black [b], White [c], or
2. White [a], Black [b], White [d]

Chinese

da3 (he2) lian2

English

the combination of a (single stone) check move and a connection move

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